Positive Thinking 101

Positive thinking is a
fundamental happiness-building concept. It can, however, be a bit more
complicated than most people may think.

What is intend here, therefore, is to simplify
it (probably over-simplify it) as an introductory discussion. That's why
this is called "Positive Thinking 101" - since it is positive
thinking at its most basic level.

If you
want to get deeper into the subject, change the way you think, and perhaps make
positive thinking a new habit for you, click here to learn more.

What
is positive thinking?

Nearly
everyone knows that "positive thinking" is a good thing.
Unfortunately, many people think it means simply thinking positive thoughts all
the time or repeating positive “affirmations”.
Many people who want to be happier or more successful even think that's
all you have to do - just think positive thoughts – and everything will work
out.

Well,
that may be part of it; but it’s really just a small part of the whole concept
of positive thinking.

Positive
thinking also does not mean "seeing everything through rose-colored
glasses" and basically ignoring or minimizing the negatives of life.
In addition, just sitting around with a positive mindset will obviously not get
anyone very far.

Positive
thinking involves many other components for the desired results to be realized
- which are usually true and lasting
happiness, less stress, business and personal success, and perhaps the creation
of wealth.

To
achieve those things, here is what positive thinking really involves:

Thinking positive
thoughts regularly and frequently

Being optimistic
- even when life is difficult

Solving problems
and making the most of bad situations

Dealing with
stress in a calm, effective way

Seeing the best
in other people

Viewing yourself
and your abilities in a positive light (i.e., having a high level of
self-esteem)

Having positive
expectations for the future

Having goals and taking action toward the achievement
of those goals

The Benefits of Positive Thinking

“External” Benefits

Making
a “habit” of positive thinking by consistently using the basic components
listed above has significant favorable influences on all aspects of life.

People
who practice “positive thinking” enjoy better relationships, suffer less
anxiety, and are generally more successful (personally and financially) than
negative, pessimistic people.

The
key, though, is that positive thinking (the entire spectrum of positive
thinking components described above) must become a habit for it to really work.

Thinking
positively while pursuing your Definition
of Happiness, for example, will allow for a higher likelihood of achieving
that happiness definition – meaning you will be a genuinely happier person.

Similarly, thinking positively while pursuing your goals (by
taking action – enthusiastic action) will allow for a higher likelihood of
achieving those goals - and ultimate success in life.

In
addition, relationships between people who are “positive thinking people” (and
who are happier because of it) are closer and more fulfilling. Even marriages between two happy, positive
people last longer.

Health
Benefits

In
addition to all the “external” advantages, research into this area has
indicated that, in addition to those “external” or "personal"
benefits, there are many health (physiological) benefits linked to positive
thinking and optimistic attitudes as well.

According to the Mayo
Clinic, positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits
including:

A longer life span

Less stress and anxiety

Lower rates of depression

Increased resistance to the common
cold

Better stress management and coping
skills

Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
and cardiac-related death

Increased physical well-being

Better psychological health

One
study of 1,558 older adults found that positive thinking could also reduce frailty
during old age.

How
to Become a Positive Thinker (Making it a Habit)

Like
many other things in life, as implied in this basic introduction, being a
positive thinker must really become a "habit". So, if you are
not a positive thinker, you must make a commitment to a process that makes
positive thinking a habit. You really have to take small steps toward
being a positive thinker.

The
first 4 steps required to develop a positive
thinking habit are:

Learn to notice
and analyze your thoughts: This means learning to
control your "self-talk". When you think about a task,
goal, or project, do you think about the difficulty of the task or the
unlikely achievement of the goal? If so, that self-talk "habit"
has to be changed. Part of it relates to self-esteem (which is a
deeper issue). In general, though,
you must force yourself to think only about succeeding and a achieving a
positive outcome. Again, this is not always easy. Click here
to find out more about how to achieve this.

Visualize the feeling
of success: Think about how you will feel by completing the
tasks, meeting the challenges, and solving the problems you are facing successfully
and ahead of schedule. How would your life improve? How will you feel about yourself and about
life?

Be (and stay)
enthusiastic in everything you do: Positive thinking people do
everything with enthusiasm. Even
when the task is mundane or the problem is difficult, positive people
don’t complain – they pump themselves up, even if they have to fake it at
first. That’s why they are more
successful – because they keep moving forward, rather than giving up,
partly because their enthusiasm keeps them motivated and engaged. This then builds an even greater
positivity habit.

Focus on the big
picture: “The devil
is in the details.” So, even though
the details must be addressed, what’s the big picture? In other words, what is the larger
vision, the greater purpose, and the ultimate outcome you want? It is so much more positive to think
about the longer-term pleasure
we can get than the possible short-term pain and sacrifice we might have
to go through to complete a task or achieve a goal.

All this is just
the tip of the iceberg toward positive thinking and becoming a positive
thinker. But it is all worth it.

Being able to think
positively will help you move in the direction of complete happiness and
massive success. It will improve
relationships, create better health, reduce stress, and help achieve success.

There will be much
more coming in other articles and in The
BeHappy! Newsletter. For
now, click here to get the draft version of a new ebook coming out soon for just 99 cents!!!!

BeHappy! my friends

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